Pushed to the brink of desperation, the Council had finally sanctioned Jackson's solution, willing to take a gamble on his precise mind and the high-stakes gamble of his invention. Even Councillor Shaw had remained silent, much to Jackson’s surprise. Perhaps she had finally recognized the abyss facing all of them, or maybe she was simply allowing Jackson enough rope to hang himself should the invention fail. Regardless of the motive, Shaw’s silence made all the difference. Without friction, Jackson was allowed to cut off prying eyes and work in total isolation to maintain absolute control of his project until its activation. There could be no room for error.

I… don’t know. Where I am.  I feel heavy, dreamy, as if I’ve been asleep for days. I can’t quite focus my eyes. Wasn’t I just walking, wandering from the base?